(continued)

HEX

Hexadecimal. The base 16 numbering system, which uses the digits 0-9 plus

 

the letters A-F.

 

 

host computer

The computer at the center of a network.

 

 

Hostname

The TCP/IP name assigned by the installation software to the device. By

 

default, this is the letters HP followed by the last 6 digits of the Media Access

 

Control (MAC) address.

 

 

hub

No longer commonly used in modern home networks, a hub takes its signal

 

from each computer and sends it to all of the other computers connected to

 

the hub. Hubs are passive; other devices on the network plug into the hub in

 

order to communicate with one another. A hub does not manage the network.

 

 

IP address

A number that uniquely identifies the device on the network. IP addresses

 

are assigned dynamically through DHCP or AutoIP. You can also set up a

 

static IP address, though this is not recommended.

 

 

MAC address

Media Access Control (MAC) address that uniquely identifies the HP All-in-

 

One. This is a unique 12-digit identification number assigned to networking

 

hardware for identification. No two pieces of hardware have the same MAC

 

address.

 

 

network name

The SSID or network name identifies a wireless network.

 

 

NIC

Network Interface Card. A card on your computer that provides an Ethernet

 

connection so that you can connect your computer to a network.

 

 

RJ-45 connector

The connector on the ends of an Ethernet cable. Although standard Ethernet

 

cable connectors (RJ-45 connectors) look similar to standard telephone

 

cable connectors, they are not interchangeable. An RJ-45 connector is wider

 

and thicker and always has 8 contacts on the end. A phone connector has

 

between 2 and 6 contacts.

 

 

router

A router provides a bridge between two or more networks. A router can link

 

a network to the Internet, link two networks and connect both to the Internet,

 

and help secure networks through the use of firewalls and assigning dynamic

 

addresses. A router can also act as a gateway, while a switch cannot.

 

 

SSID

The SSID or network name identifies a wireless network.

 

 

switch

A switch makes it possible for several users to send information over a

 

network at the same time without slowing each other down. Switches allow

 

different nodes (a network connection point, typically a computer) of a

 

network to communicate directly with one another.

 

 

WEP

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is a type of encryption used for wireless

 

network security.

 

 

WPA

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is a type of encryption used for wireless

 

network security. WPA offers greater security than WEP.

 

 

Connection information

Network connection

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